Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Book Highlight: The Blackmail of Evelynn Faust by Shirley Anne Edwards

The Blackmail
of Evelynn Faust

Shirley Anne Edwards

YA Contemporary
w/Romantic Elements/73k

Evelynn
Faust suffers from horrible insomnia and paranoia. The summer before her senior
year of high school should be one of the best summers of her life. But she’s
tormented by guilt and an addiction that haunts her every waking moment. Evelynn
is a drug dealer who also craves the drug she sells. The money and the
popularity that come with it aren’t bad either. But when she’s caught dealing
on school property by Eric Wagner, the respected and admired police chief’s son,
the game is over.

He won’t snitch on her, unless she gives him whatever
he wants - her.

She’s
being blackmailed.

Evelynn has no one to turn to for help. Not her
parents who don’t understand her rebellious nature or her circle of friends who
only care about partying and getting high. When Adam Tristen moves in across
the street, and he wants to get to know her better, it all seems too good to be
true.

She
must make a pact with the devil.

Evelynn now looks over her shoulder wherever she goes,
waiting for Eric to act on his threats. But Adam, the charming college sophomore,
sees something special inside Evelynn, and he wants to help her fix mistakes. In
order to do that she must confront a dark secret from her past that could
destroy her family…her life…and her entire world as she knows it.

“You’re sure we can be in here?” Adam and I sat in the
club’s kitchen each enjoying a plate of food. We used one of the
stainless-steel tables while the staff moved around us, acting as if we weren’t
there.

“Yeah. My boy, Lenny’s father, is the manager here.
Remember when I told you to wait a minute in the hallway? I asked him for
permission.” He smiled and finished eating the last of the Swedish meatballs on
his plate.

During the hour, we ate to the point where I worried I
might burst out of my dress.

Adam wiped his mouth and raised his glass in a salute.
“I forgot to mention, but you look great in your dress.”

Whoa. Does he have ESP?

I put down my fork. “I was just thinking I ate like a
pig and must be bulging out of it, and not in a sexy way. Sure you’re not
physic and reading my mind?”

“If I were, I would know why you’re running away from
a guy. So, what’s the deal? Why are you afraid of him?”

“I’m not scared of him.” I tapped my fingers on the
table while a waiter placed crackers on a tray.

Adam’s hand dropped over mine. “Evelynn. I saw the
fear in your eyes.”

I laughed, hoping he would take the hint and drop it.
I finished the rest of my soda to give me more time. He cocked his head to the
side, waiting for me to continue. I would reveal just enough to stop his
questions. “Eric and I have a history. We were friends for a short time in
grade school. But, he’s developed a massive ego because of his father, and his
overall popularity at school. He has a hard time taking no for an answer.” I
inhaled a shaky breath. “He thinks he’s in love with me.”

“And you’re not in love with him?” Adam squeezed my
hand.

“Heck no. I’m sixteen. What do I know about love? He’s
the least-likely person I’d fall in love with.”

“Sixteen is too young to be with one person in a
committed relationship or to be in love.” He shrugged. “I’m twenty and never
been in love with a girl.”

“How about boys?” These days I never knew with guys
and wanted to make sure with Adam before we went any further with our
new…friendship.

He didn’t seem offended by my question and took a
drink from his glass. “Not into dudes. I’m 100 percent straight. But my parents
would love for me to settle down with someone. They got married around my age
and expect me to do the same, at least when I graduate college.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of pressure. My parents are hoping
I graduate high school and grow out my hair.”

“Your hair? What’s the matter with it?” He tugged on a
few strands, and my belly tightened.

“Ah, it used to be down to my waist. I cut off over
six inches last month because I got sick of it. My mother wasn’t too happy. I
thought she might disown me.”

His hand moved behind my head, and his thumb rubbed my
ear. It tickled. I fought not to squirm in my seat.

“I think you look like a pixie, or a fairy.” He
sounded huskier.

I licked my
lips as I stared into his big brown eyes. “Thanks. Since we’re sharing things
we like about one another, you have nice eyes.”

His eyebrows lifted in surprise, and he dropped his
hand, leaving me cold from the lack of heat near my neck.

“Guys can’t have nice eyes.” He frowned and chewed on
an ice cube.

“My dad says—oh no, I totally forgot.” I jumped up
from my seat. “I’m supposed to be working the party, I mean, I have to talk to
people with Dad about donations for fixing the track at my school. I better get
out there.”

“I should go, too. See what Edmund’s up to. It was
nice sitting and talking with you, Evelynn.”

“Sure, no problem.” He kissed my cheek—something I
didn’t expect. “Thanks for making me welcome here. I hope we can hang out
again.”

“You don’t mind hanging out with a high school girl
when you could be with a college woman?” I teased.

“Don’t sell yourself short.” His lips twitched, but he
didn’t smile, although humor flashed across his face. “Age has nothing to do
about it. You don’t act like some immature sixteen-year-old girls I’ve hung out
with.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” I gave him a light punch
on his arm and went to throw my plate in the garbage.

“Here, let me.” He collected our dirty plates to throw
away.

“Thanks again.” I flicked my bangs away from my
forehead. “Do I look okay? Maybe I should go to the bathroom?”

His stared with appreciation. I would have liked to
say attraction also, but then again, I could’ve been mistaken. He gave me two
thumbs up. “You look great.”

“I’ll catch you later.” I walked out of the kitchen,
giving him a wave.

“You better believe it,” he said.

I skipped down the carpeted hallway. I was high, but
an entirely different one from the other times I smoked up. Passing a mirror, I
noticed how red my cheeks were. Adam was right. My dress did fit me in all the
right ways. It had just taken someone like him to see it.

About
the Author:

Shirley
Anne Edwards is a Northeast girl who first found her love for books when she
read Nancy Drew's The Secret of the Old Clock Tower at thirteen. Shirley found
her love for writing at a very young age, and since then has let her
imagination run wild by creating quirky characters and vast worlds in her head.

Shirley lives in New Jersey and works in the entertainment industry in New York
City.

In the immortal words of Mark Twain: "Life is short, Break the Rules.
Forgive quickly, Kiss SLOWLY. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret
ANYTHING that makes you smile."